Treatment of water



- April 5, 1927.

J. -l. HARRlNGToN TRENIMENT OF WATER 3 Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed Fqb. 2, 1924' 'aan l 1,623 342 April 5 1927"* J. H. HARRINGTON TREATMENT oF WATER Filed Feb. 2, 1924 5 sheeftslsheet 2 April '5, 1927.

y J. H. HARRINGTON TREATMENT 0F WATER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2. 1924 Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

' UNITED STATES PATENT AOFF-ICE.

'Jorrit HENRY HARRINGTON, or :BAIE DURFE, QUEBEC, CANADA, AssIGNoR 0F ONE- THIRD To GEORGE W. RoBB, oF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA TREATMENT OF WATER.

Application led February 2, 1924. Serial No. 690,109.

Myinvention relates particularly to the treatment of water for purification and has for its object to provide a permanent indicator of the state of the water after having passed through a purification process.

Heretofore it has 4been the prat-tice 1n the purifying of water by chlorination to subject the treated water to test by bacteriological method from time to time or sub'iectit'from time to time to a chemical test for 1 residual chlorine. rFhe first mentioned of these tests is relatively slow and the last mentioned is unreliable because it is impossible for the human eye to etlect a re liabley test of color Without some constantA 'standard of color with which it may be compared.' My invention provides an apparatus through which the treated -water may be caused to flow and which contains a permanent indicator of color value with which the portion of the water beingI tested for residual chlorine may be compared at a glance.

More specifically stated my invention may be said -to consist of an apparatus for indicating at a glance the state of purification of water after having,4 passed through a chlorination process.

vFor full comprehension, however, of my 3U invention reference must behad to the accompanying drawings in which similar ret'- erence characters indicate the same parts and wherein: l v

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus :i5 suitable for use in the treatment of water according to my invent-ion;

Figure 2 is av transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view 4o taken on line 3-3 Figure l.;

Figure 4 isa longitlulinal sectional view taken on line 4--1 Figure 1 Figure 5 is an isome-t-riral view of a cahinet with my improved indicating apparatus 11.', set therein Figure 6 is a sectional view through theI cabinet the scstion being taken from front...

.'o view of the turbidinwler;

Figure 8 is an end view thereof:

Figure 9 is a. detail view ol' the turbidimeter;

Figure 10 is a detaily sei-tional view of the purified Water conductor;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken on line ll-l'l Figure 10;

Figure l12 is a side elevation partly in section illust-rating a modified apparatus employed for testing by comparison the color of water as it enters the intake and a color producing device of known color vaille.; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the modification.

`'Vater to be tested for residuall chlorine is conducted by a pipe b' to a header c i'rom which branches d, e and f lead to a plurality of waterconductors g, h and i respectively preferably in the form of open top enamel, porcelain or other white troughs from which the water is discharged through lo, Z andan. The troughs g and 1f have blue plates on the bottom. the number of plates being increased -or diminished in accordance with the depth of color required` as will be presently described. These plates are indicated at s.

".lhe water to be tested is conducted by pipe b and is distributed by the header c and branch pipes d, e and f through the A(-.hlm'inated water is then tested for residual chlorine by the usual chemical method. A color test is then made with the usual color developing agent; potassium iodide starch solution is commonly used. This color test develops a color value which indicates the' amount otl chlorine present' in the water. .lhe color produced 1s blue and its Vallieor shade is equivalent to the amount of re sidual chlorine iu the water. Consequently yit there is residual chlorine, or in other words, chlorine over and above that known to he suflirient to destroy the bacilli shown by the hacteriologieal test to he present in the water, the, blue color appearing in the wafer will have depth of shade or colorvalue in proportion to the amount of residual chlorine present.

According to my invention when this shade ot blue is determined it is matched by a blue device, preferably one of the plates s, one or a number ot which will produce varying shade or color value,v and these plat-es are placed on the bottom of each of the troughs g and z'. I prefer to use suitable blue glass and in order to obtain different. degrees or depths of blue I pile one upon the other, any desired number,

until the color developed in the test has been matched. I have found that the particular blue glass employed microscopically when a blue' field is desired, is suitable.-` No plates are placed Vin the conductor h. lVater to be matched is caused to flow, as above described, or otherwise., in separate streams through the respective troughs g, z, and z', and if looked at from above the water {iowing through the troughs gv and will appear with the color of the plate, while the Water flowing through the trough h will be unaffected and have its initial inherent color.

v I add potassium iodide starch solu'tionto the stream flowing through the trough L and a blue color is immediately .developed in that water.v In the event of the residual chlorine in the water being excessive a deep blue will appear in trough h, possibly of inky blackness, and if `there is/insuflicient residual chlorine little or no color will appear. My idea is to establish a color representative of what has been established as the proper amount of residual chlorine. To facilitate comparison between the flowing water and a standard I providetwo limits indicative of the maximum and minimum quantity of residual chlorine allowable as determined by bacteriological and physical tests. For instance the usual tests of a sample of a given water supply may indicate that three tenths of a part of chlorine per` million parts of water will be required to sterilize the water. This quantity of chlorine however cannot be relied upon as a constant in the purification of that water.

because under such conditions more chlorine might be employed than is necessary. I therefore reduce the chlorine until there is a trace of bacteria shown. This quantity of chlorine indicates a certain shade of blue and I match this shade with three or more blue plates and place them in trough y. This indicates the maximum dose. However although three tenths may be extreme safety yet two tenths being found to be still within the scope of safety the plates are reduced iri number until the color indicated by two tenths is matched. This is the minimum dose and these plates are placed in trough z'. o

In order to augment the testing operation I provide a turbidimeter whereby the water direct from the intakes may be compared with purified water. The untreated water is caused totlow in a continuous stream through a glass conductor of particular construction and presenting` a turbidity gauge and theV cloudiiig of the glass by atmospheric condensation is also prevented. The conductor consists of a glass pipe 50 enclosed within a second pipe 51 to form an air chamber 52 surrounding the pipe 50. `These pipes are closed at their ends by caps or heads 53 and 54 clamped lin place by bolts-55, the ends of the pipes bein slotted by gaskets `56 in seats 57 in they insi e of the heads; while the head is,

formed with duets 58 and 59 with which inlet and outlet pipes v60 and 61 respectively are l,

connected, the inner ends of these ducts from the lett to the right `ends of the pipe. v

These graduations represent/r egrecs of turbidityand are numbered from zero to three hundred. The water direct fromthe intake is conducted to this turbidin'ieter by pipe 60 and it flows continually through the/same and out to waste through pipe 61. Purified water is caused to flow throughthe inner pipe of a second conductor consistin of inner and outer pipes 70 and 71 respectively and having intake and discharge ducts 74 and v75. These intake and outlet pipes 74 and 7 5 lead from and to any available source of purified water. These conductors are mounted inthe front wall of the vertical upper portion of. acabinet having a horizontally forward extension 101 in the sur-y face of which the troughs g, 71A and a are set. lVithin the upper extension of the cabinet is set a .tank 105V for containing the color producing agent and a small bore pipe 106 connects this tank to the branch pipe e near -its 'point`0f junction with the header 3. This pipe 10G is controlled by a valve 107. By this means and the particular location of the tank 105 the color producing agent is caused to drop by gravity and the amount thus fed to the water passing through the branch e may be regulated. the color agent will be thoroughly mixed with the water this branch is made of tortuous form.A Water is conducted from the Water mains by a pair of pipes Q00 provided with chlorine injectors 201 with which are connected pipes 202 leading from any suitable chlorine container not shown provided with valves QO-loperatcd byvalve stems 204. and handles Q05 having pointers Q06 registering with dials 20T set in the top of the horizontal extension lill of the cabinet. Purified waterflows to and from the receptacle Tl by pipes 20T and 209'respectively and the water from the intake flows to and from the turbidimetcr through pipes (5() and 61 respectively; while. the chlorinated water flows to and from the troughs by pipes l) and 221 respectively. Pressure gages 23() and 231 respectively are connected to the chlorine pipes between the valves Q03 and chlorinator 201 by pipes 241 and 240.

To insure that p lao The light of the electric lamps 110 is preferably made to shine through the glass. tubes.

When the turbidity of the water risesit usually indicates that there is a higher degree of polution, and then if the trough h indicating the blue is fading-the dose of chlorine is increased. But if, as rarely occurs, t-he blue in trough l1. is maintained then the dose of chlorine is also maintained.

Another reliable test may be made according to the broad conception of my invention. Sometimes it is necessary to test water being treated with another chemical purifier by ascertaining the depth of the color of the water. This test may also bemade-according to my invention,by comparing the water with a plate or other device showing depth of color of certain value, orV the plates may be exchanged or their number varied to produce a co or of equal value to or matching the color of the water. It is the practice in the art to give certain density numbers to color` values or shades, for instance a medium shade is known as No. 5t) and the definite Variations to the lightest and darkest may be numbered up to No.0 and i down to No. 100. The apparatus I use for the ocular test is illustrated in lFigure, 12. It consists of a Water conductor 15() with a white lining preferably enamel This conductor is set on a table and fixed in position. Tater from the intake flows into thislconductor through pipe 151 and after'passing through it flows out through pipe 152. The table has a glazed aperture 153 adjacent to the trough and beneath this aperture is an end`ess belt 154 carrying a series of groups of color producing devices 155 preferably colored glass plates. The groups of these plates may involve progressively increasing numbers from one, representing the palest color or color of lowest density to thc deepest or darkest color; or if desired instead of groups of varying numbers of plates a single plate may be substituted for each group, such single plate having a thickness equivalent to the color required in the group.

-'l`hese' plates are mounted in frames 156 forming the links of the endless chain and the colors and values of theveolors are made visible by an electric lamp 157 with reflector 158 supported beneath the upper length of the chain and in the vertical plane of the glazed aperture 153. The chain may be caused to revolve by a crank 160 or other suitable means. the movement of the chain being very slight and for purposes only of adjusting difiere-nt plates of the .series to position beneath the glazed aperture. Assuming that the color sought. to be cleared from the water is yellow. then although the water may not he turbid and yet may be suitable for drinking purposes nevertheless its color may be objectionable and it may be necessary thereforeto remove t-he color matter. This maybe done by dosing the water with alum. The amount Iof alum necessary would depend upon the amount of' color matter there is in the water and this is indicated by the depth of the color. It is known what quantity of chemical to put into the'water to vremove a given depth of color but it has been necessary in the past to dose. the-water more or less haphazard and this feature of my, invention provides .a definite color value to be compared with the water and thus determine at a glance how much chemical should be employed to clear the water. By my apparatus as the water flows through trough 151 the'belt may be caused to travel until the plate or plates corresponding in color with the color of the water is or are shown through the glazed .aperture 153, the contiguity of the trough of Water tothe color rays emanating from the disc or discs and through the glazed aperture facilitates the matching of the known color values with the water and enables the amount of chemical required to be readily ascertained.

lVhat I claim is as follows:

' 1. In the continuous treatment of water for purification,` a me hod rofl testing for the chemical purifier conten't'of the water consisting in causing a specimen of the water being tested to constantly How in a plurality of streams one within the color reflecting range'of a color producing device, and simultaneously in a stream distinct from and adjacent to but out of the color reflecting range of the first mentioned streamfor the purpose of ocular' comparison of the second stream with the first.

2l In the continuous chlorination4 of the drinking water supply of a community a method of testing consisting in causing a specimen of the treated water to constantly flow in a plurality of streams one within the color reflecting range of a color producing device and simultaneously in a stream distinct from and adjacent to but out of the color reflecting range of the first mentioned stream for the purpose of ocular comparison of the'second stream with, the first', then adding a color -developing agent to the second stream and finally varying the chlorine content of the water unti'l the colors of the first and second streams match.

3. In the continuous treatment of the water supply ot a community for purification causing a specimen of the. Water benng tested to constantly flow 1u a plurahty fue developing agent to the second stream there: by determnnng the chemical purlfer con- I tent of the second stream for the purpose Y of ascertainingthe quantity of chemical Vquired to purify the Water tested.

purifier required to purify the Water tested.

L `ln the continuous testing of a chlorinated water supply of a community for residual chlorine, causing a specimen of the Water being tested to constantly flow in a plurality of streams one within the color reflecting range, of a color producing dewater supply of a community consisting of a conductor for conducting Water from the main body of the vvater, a chlorinator coupled toand discharging into the conductor,

a chlorine supply pipe leading to the chlorinator, al valve controlling the chlorine supply pipe, a plurality of observation vessels one of said vessels having a colour-reflecting device therein, and another of said vessels presenting a colourless surface, a pipe connected at one end to the said conductor at 4a point aflected by the chlorinator and having branches at its opposite end communicating with said vessels at one end thereof, a discharge pipe connected to the opposite ends of the vessels, a container for a colour-producing agent, a pipe Connecting the container to the branch pipe leading into, the colourless vessel, and a valve for controlling the last-mentioned pipe.

6. An apparatus for the treatment of the l Water` supply of a community consisting `end to the said conductor at a of a conductor for conducting Water from the main body of water, a chlorinator coupled to and discharging into the conductor, a chlorine supply pipeleading to the chlorinator, a valve controlling the chlorine supply pipe, a plurality ofV observation troughs two of which have colour-producing plates in the bottoml thereof, the colour plates in one trough indicatingr a minimum and the colour plates in the other trough indicating a maximum, and a third of'said troughs being colourless, a pipe connected at one point affected \by the chlorinator and having branches at its oppositev end communicating with said troughs at one end thereof, a Adischargepipe connected to the opposite ends of the troughs, a container for a colour producing agent, a pipe connecting the container to the branch pipe leading into thev colourless trough and controlling the lastmentioned pipe, said branch pipe Which'comof connection of said last-mentioned pipe and the trough for the purpose of facilitating the mixing of the colour-producing agent with the Water.

Y 7. An apparatus for the continuous treatment of the Water supply of a community consisting of a conductor for the water from the intake, a chlorinator coupled to the conductor, a chlorine pipe leading to the chlorinator` a valve 4controlling the chlorine pipe, a cabinet having the handle of the chlorine pipe set ina surface thereof, a pressure gauge set in a surface of the cabinet and connected to the chlorine pipe between thevalve and the chlorinator, a plurality of troughs set in a surface of the cabinet,

one vof the troughs having a colour reflecting device therein, and another of the said troughs presentingla surface clear of colour and a pipe connected to the Water conductor at -a point affected by the chlorinatorand having branches' communicating with one end of the troughs, a discharge pipe connected to the opposite ends of the troughs,

a container for a colour producing agent,l

a pipe connecting the'container to the branch pipe leading into the clear trough, a valve for controlling the last-mentioned -pipe, a turbidimeter set in a surface ofthe cabinet and having a scale for indicating the degree of turbidity, a pipe for conducting Water from the intake to thev turbidimcter. and avv flow pipe leading from the turbidinieter.

8. In an apparatus for the continuous treatment of the Water supply of a community for purification, the combination with a Water conductor of a chlorinecontainer, a pipe for conducting chlorine to the water conductor, a valve controlling the chlorine pipe, a pressure gage connected to the chlorine pipe between the valve and the water conductor, a receptacleifor a color developing agent, a plurality of water conducting troughs, a. valve controlled pipe connecting one of the lsaid troughs to the color developing agent receptacle, a branch pipe connecting the plurality of troughs to the Wat-ei' conductor.

.ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 

